BMW E83 X3 coding list
2006–2010 · 104 settings you can change yourself, from the published lists of BimmerCode and Carly, with the module, difficulty and caveats for each
Before you code
- Both apps need a supported OBD adapter plugged into the port in the driver's footwell; not every adapter works with every car, and some newer G-series modules can only be reached with specific adapters (BimmerCode quick start, BimmerCode FAQ).
- Coding restarts the module you changed, so the car can show warning messages for a moment. BimmerCode says these clear after switching the ignition off and on again (BimmerCode FAQ).
- Keep the backup the app makes before you code. BimmerCode says coding data can be restored from it if a connection drops, but that misuse of expert mode can leave a module needing a reflash (BimmerCode FAQ).
- Some modules have known faults: BimmerCode refuses to code certain FRM footwell modules that have a corrupted boot sector, and on some cars the body domain controller (BDC) can stop responding until the 12 V battery is disconnected for a few minutes (BimmerCode FAQ).
- The lists below are the apps' published lists. What your car actually offers depends on its modules, software level and factory options; the free version of BimmerCode reads the car and shows what is available before you pay (BimmerCode quick start).
Areas
Alarm System 15 Cleaning 12 Comfort Functions 6 Coming Home 10 Flash to Pass 1 Headlight Cleaning 5 Interior Lights 6 Locking 15 Mirrors 3 Opening 10 Power Windows 11 Sidemarker 1 Tail gate/Rear lid 3 Turn signals 6
Easy: One setting; change it and you are done. Two-step: Works only together with a second, paired setting (often in another module); the note says which. Only if equipped: Needs hardware the car must already have from the factory. Retrofit: Only after the matching hardware has been fitted. Difficulty is our grouping, based on the app's own description of each setting.
Alarm System
| Setting | Choices | Module | Difficulty | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Theft Alarm System | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Audible confirmation – unlocking vehicle Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Audible confirmation – locking vehicle Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Audible confirmation after complete closing Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Alarm sound | interval sound / continuous sound | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Alarm sound long | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Alarm with dimmed headlights | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Alarm with high beams | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Alarm with warning lights | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Interior space monitoring | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Interior space monitoring rear To deactivate the sensor ‘Interior space monitoring’ has to be set to ‘not active’. | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Tilt sensor for alarm | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Panic alarm | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Unlock with Centerlock button To lock the car again, it has to be unlocked by either a remote or a key first. | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Arm/Disarm Anti-Theft Alarm System | With locks and remote / Only with remote | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
Cleaning
| Setting | Choices | Module | Difficulty | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain sensor | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Wiping interval | 5s / 3s | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Reduce wiping speed on stop | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Windscreen wipers continue | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Wipe delay after windscreen cleaning | 0.1s / 0.3s / 0.5s / 0.7s | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Number of wipes after windscreen cleaning | 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| No Wiping after windscreen cleaning | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Head light cleaning | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Number until headlight cleaning | 3 / 5 / 7 / 9 | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Number of splashes for head lights | 2 / 3 | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Length of splash for head lights | 0.7s / 1s | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Delay between splashes for head lights | 1.3s / 1s | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
Comfort Functions
| Setting | Choices | Module | Difficulty | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort open using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Comfort close using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Comfort open rear windows using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Comfort close rear windows using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Comfort open sunroof using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Comfort close sunroof using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
Coming Home
| Setting | Choices | Module | Difficulty | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follow me home lights duration | off / 40s / 90s / 150s / 240s | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
| Follow me home lights – low beams | on / off | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
| Follow me home lights – turn signals | on / off | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
| Follow me home lights – high beams | on / off | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
| Follow me home lights – dashboard lights | on / off | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
| Follow me home lights – number plates | on / off | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
| Follow me home lights – fog lights front | on / off | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
| Follow me home lights – park lights front | on / off | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
| Follow me home lights – park lights rear | on / off | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
| Follow me home lights – park lights rear addition | on / off | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
Flash to Pass
| Setting | Choices | Module | Difficulty | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash to pass with bi-xenon | on / off | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
Headlight Cleaning
Interior Lights
| Setting | Choices | Module | Difficulty | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turn off interior lighting after x seconds | 0s / 5s / 15s / 20s | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Interior lighting after ignition off | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Interior lighting with parking lights | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Interior lighting after unlock | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Interior lighting soft on/off | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Interior lighting turn on with remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
Locking
| Setting | Choices | Module | Difficulty | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optical confirmation – locking vehicle Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Audible confirmation – locking vehicle Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Audible confirmation after complete closing Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Optical confirmation after complete closing Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Comfort close using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Comfort close rear windows using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Comfort close sunroof using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Automatically lock vehicle | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Threshold speed for vehicle locking | on ignition / 4 kph / 2 mph / 8 kph / 5 mph / 12 kph / 8 mph / 16 kph / 10 mph / 20 kph / 12 mph / 24 kph / 15 mph / 28 kph / 17 mph | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Lock vehicle at x kph | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Lock vehicle at x kph Key 1 | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Lock vehicle at x kph Key 2 | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Lock vehicle at x kph Key 3 | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Lock vehicle at x kph Key 4 | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Lock tailgate when vehicle is locked | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
Mirrors
Opening
| Setting | Choices | Module | Difficulty | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optical confirmation – unlocking vehicle Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Audible confirmation – unlocking vehicle Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Comfort open using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Comfort open rear windows using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Comfort open sunroof using remote | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Secondary unlock | off / Selective central locking / Easy entry | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Secondary unlock remote 1 | off / Selective central locking / Easy entry | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Secondary unlock remote 2 | off / Selective central locking / Easy entry | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Secondary unlock remote 3 | off / Selective central locking / Easy entry | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Secondary unlock remote 4 | off / Selective central locking / Easy entry | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
Power Windows
| Setting | Choices | Module | Difficulty | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Window tip function driver door 1/2 | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Window tip function driver door 2/2 | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Window tip function passenger door 1/2 | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Window tip function passenger door 2/2 | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Window tip function rear doors 1/2 Does not work on Cabriolets. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Window tip function rear doors 2/2 Does not work on Cabriolets. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Window tip function central switch 1/2 Does not work on Cabriolets. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Window tip function central switch 2/2 Does not work on Cabriolets. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Use windows with open doors Only works when ignition is turned on. | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Windows continue | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
| Power windows after ignition off | on / off | GM5 | Easy | Carly |
Sidemarker
| Setting | Choices | Module | Difficulty | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidemarker (US) – turn signals | on / off | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
Tail gate/Rear lid
Turn signals
| Setting | Choices | Module | Difficulty | Listed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optical confirmation – unlocking vehicle Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Optical confirmation – locking vehicle Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| Optical confirmation after complete closing Only works if ‘Anti Theft System’ is set to ‘active’. | on / off | GM5 | Two-step | Carly |
| One-touch turn signal function | one time / three times | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
| Hazard lights | standard / double | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
| Crash lights | standard / double | LSZ | Easy | Carly |
What we left out
The apps also list settings that switch off or weaken safety equipment or lighting that US law requires, or that only make sense in other markets. We don't list them. For the E83 that is:
- Bulb-failure monitoring, lamp warnings and LED-bulb conversion (36)
- Brake lights used for welcome, follow-me-home, running-light or side-marker functions (1)
- Fog lights as running lights or with high beams (lighting-law issue in many US states) (1)
- Switching off or dimming US side-marker lights (required on US cars) (1)
Sources
Setting names, choices and modules are as the apps publish them, retrieved 2026-10-18. We have no relationship with either app and don't earn anything if you buy one.
E83 buyer's guide E83 repair costs and recalls E83 specs All coding lists